At the Edge of the White Dunes

Desert scrub stretches toward the first gleaming gypsum dunes of White Sands National Park beneath an expansive New Mexico sky. This panoramic landscape captures the gradual transformation from earth-toned grassland to brilliant white sand, where hardy vegetation gives way to one of the Southwest’s most distinctive natural wonders. #WhiteSands #WhiteSandsNationalPark #NewMexico #GypsumDunes #DesertScrub #DesertLandscape #PanoramicLandscape #BlueSky #NaturePhotography #LandscapePhotography #NationalParks #Southwest #EngelPhotography

Photographer James Engel

Date & Time Saturday, March 28th, 2026 at 8:40 AM America/Denver

Focal Length 32mm

Shutter Speed 1/160 sec

Aperture ƒ/11

ISO 64

Location North America, The United States of America, New Mexico, White Sands National Park

Keywords Desert Landscape, Landscapes & Nature, National Park, Panorama, Plant, Scenic Vista

Camera Nikon D850

Lens NIKON 24-85mm F3.5-4.5G ED VR AF-S Nikkor Lens

Approximate Map Location

Latitude: 32.794037
Longitude: -106.212486
Altitude: 1,126.0 meters / 3,694.2 feet